Python

“I was terrified of Python!” – How Harry became a Code Club youth mentor

Every Thursday after school, the Code Club at Dame Allan’s Schools, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, becomes a space where young people can experiment, solve problems, and learn together. But for 14-year-old Harry, it’s also become an opportunity to lead, teach, and inspire others.

Harry first joined Code Club in Year 7 with some experience of Scratch and a love of “all sorts of computer-y things”. Over the years, he explored everything from Sonic Pi and web design to AI and machine learning. But one challenge stood out.

“The worst part for me was when we were introduced to Python,” Harry says. “I was so scared of text-based coding! I ended up learning it and it went OK!”

Now, just a few years later, Harry is leading sessions and supporting creators to learn Python as a Code Club youth mentor.

A student is standing in front of a large touchscreen display, writing code for a simple choice adventure game. The screen shows a Python code snippet with instructions for the game, including a welcome message and player choices. The student is wearing a blue sports outfit and appears engaged in the lesson.

Taking the leap into mentoring

Harry’s journey into mentoring started when he spoke to Code Club leader and computer science teacher, June Raines, about staying involved as he got older.

“She suggested that I could help out a bit as well,” Harry explains. “I thought it sounded quite fun, so I decided to give it a go and use it for my Duke of Edinburgh volunteering too.”

What began as helping other members soon developed into planning activities and running sessions.

“When I first started helping, I felt a little useless and that I wasn’t helping enough,” he says. “That inspired me to actually run my own sessions!”

Today, Harry helps lead the club every week, teaching coding concepts, supporting creators when they get stuck, and making sure sessions stay fun and engaging.

A student working on a computer screen displaying a Python programming interface with various project suggestions, including a password generator.

Building a club shaped by young people

A typical session starts with a quick game before creators dive into projects and activities. Harry regularly asks club members for feedback through surveys, which helps him shape future sessions around what they enjoy most.

“I try to tailor the sessions to what they like,” he says. “That helps keep it fun and engaging for them.”

One of Harry’s favourite things to teach has been Python — the same language that once felt intimidating to him.

“Some of my best sessions were probably when I taught them Python!”

For Harry, the most rewarding moments come from seeing younger creators grow in confidence.

“The best moment was when a new creator finally got his rock, paper, scissors game working,” he says. “I was so happy for him!”

Illustration of a computer screen displaying a pink brain at the center, with hands representing 'rock' and 'scissors' on either side and thought bubbles for creative ideas.

A Star Club success

This year, Dame Allan’s was recognised as a Star Club — a group of amazing clubs that help Code Club and its community grow and develop. They show what it takes to run a successful club, from sharing their knowledge to helping us test new projects. 

“It felt great!” Harry says. “To know that the Raspberry Pi Foundation recognised our club as an amazing example of their Code Clubs was really nice.”

June believes Harry has played an important role in creating the club’s relaxed and supportive atmosphere.

“The students really enjoy having Harry lead the club,” she says. “They see it as less of a lesson and more of a collaborative coding session.”

Looking ahead

Harry already has plans for the future. He hopes to continue leading coding activities at school and is currently learning Dart and Flutter (Dart is the programming language, and Flutter is the toolkit that helps turn that code into apps) in his own time. He’s also keen to introduce new technologies and projects to future Code Club members.

His advice for other young people thinking about becoming a Youth Mentor?

“Give it a go! What’s the worst thing that could happen?”

From being nervous about Python to teaching it himself, Harry’s story shows how Code Club can help young people develop not just coding skills, but confidence, leadership, and the chance to help others discover a love of technology too.

A student in a school uniform using a power drill to assemble a robotics project, focused on the task at hand.

For a little more support, or if you’re open to mentoring others, you can also join a Code Club. Check our website to find a club near you and become part of a like-minded and welcoming community.

Full Stack Vision Foundation: Empowering the next generation of Caribbean creators through Code Club

Full Stack Vision Foundation, a Code Club partner, is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to create the foundations for knowledge in the digital sector and provide opportunities for children in the Caribbean through activities like Code Club.

Ruhee Shah, Global Partnerships Coordinator at the Raspberry Pi Foundation, spoke to Bruce Harms, Founder and President of Full Stack Vision Foundation, about their work and how Code Clubs are inspiring the next generation of coders in the Caribbean.

Engaging the next generation of Caribbean makers

Since launching in 2022, Full Stack Vision Foundation has grown from a single library session in Oranjestad to a thriving network of ten clubs. The foundation is driven by a “full-stack” philosophy,  meaning it works on every level of the community, from youth programs to regional digital strategy. 

To engage young people who might not initially see themselves as “coders”, Bruce uses technology that feels relevant to their daily lives. By using Raspberry Pis and BBC micro:bits to build wildlife cameras or retro gaming consoles, he demonstrates the practical uses of these tools for islanders. He often demonstrates to coders how these devices can solve real-world problems, such as a Pi-powered door opener for a family member with limited mobility or a micro:bit “Heart Listener.”

“Our ecosystem of Code Clubs have no boundaries: we have 7-year-olds doing microbits, parents joining in learning to Scratch, university students helping out in sessions and teachers getting inspired to learn.” – Bruce Harms, Founder and President of Full Stack Vision Foundation

For Bruce, tailoring content to the local context is a core part of the learning experience. When using the Experience AI curriculum, clubs analyse pollution data from Aruba. In Scratch, a project about growing sugar is adapted to focus on the aloe vera plant. These cultural and historical contact points help creators see themselves as part of a global movement that respects local roots.

“The word ‘resilience’ has a special meaning for us islanders. Raspberry Pis and Code Club are the building blocks for a sustainable future.” – Bruce Harms, Founder and President of Full Stack Vision Foundation

Building pathways to STEM careers

The impact of Code Club is evident in the individual journeys of the participants. Former mentors and students are now using their Code Club experience as a foundation for higher education and international STEM competitions. For example, Jean-Luc transitioned from mentoring into university, and Ruart secured a top spot in a global robotics competition. Another creator, Gervinio, started as a CoderDojo “Ninja” and was inspired to pursue studies at Instituto Pedagogico Arubano with a focus on cybersecurity.

“We want to see more of these stories and hope to benchmark these journeys as a whole.” – Bruce Harms, Founder and President of Full Stack Vision Foundation

Two young individuals engage with a red laptop during a collaborative activity at a table, one with glasses looking focused, while the other holds a green box and observes.

Building a Caribbean-wide network

Looking ahead, the Full Stack Vision Foundation has ambitious plans to continue growing its digital ecosystem. This year, they established the Caribbean’s first Raspberry Pi Lab at the EduCampus Code Club, providing a dedicated space for more advanced making and experimentation.

By building partnerships with organisations like UNESCO and the University of the West Indies, Bruce is helping to connect the region through a shared digital language. To support their mission of uniting the region, they are also launching codeclubcaribbean.org. This new platform will serve as a hub to share stories and resources, helping to onboard new clubs in islands like Barbados, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten.

“Giving young people the ability to make, create, and sustain technological solutions is what the Caribbean wants.”
– Bruce Harms, Founder and President of Full Stack Vision Foundation

A young boy sitting at a table with a laptop, interacting with an adult man who is helping him with a device. Several individuals are visible in the background, engaged in various activities.

Inspired by the work in Full Stack Vision Foundation’s work in the Caribbean? Find out more on how to run your own Code Club.

From Code Club to Coolest Projects: Taking the next step

At Code Club, projects are a vehicle for something bigger. Whether creators are building a Scratch animation, designing a website, or experimenting with an AI project like Chomp the Cheese, the real value often lies in what they learn along the way.

Signing up for Coolest Projects 2026 gives this development a clear focus and a fun and inspiring goal to work towards.

Building confidence through sharing

When young people know they’re preparing a project to share beyond their own club, they take greater ownership of their work and spend more time refining their ideas. As they practise explaining what they’ve created, their confidence grows.

Coolest Projects isn’t about being the most advanced or technically complex. It’s about recognising effort, creativity, and progress. For many creators, submitting a project is the first time they see their work acknowledged on a wider stage, and that experience can be transformative.

“Over the years, I’ve learned how to approach projects when working on them… I’m starting a 3D printing project with LEDs and I want to use AI with it now after seeing it today.” – Amy, 13

Two girls in knitted hats wearing blue shirts labeled 'CREATOR' work on a laptop at a table with a man, who is wearing a shirt with the Raspberry Pi Foundation logo.

Strengthening communication skills

Preparing their project encourages creators to pause and think about their work — what it does, how they built it, and what they’re most proud of.

Talking about their project, whether in a short description or a conversation, gives them the chance to practise explaining their ideas clearly. That process helps build confidence in sharing their thinking and often leads to helpful discussions about how they could improve or develop it further.

Connecting to a wider community

Just being in a Code Club means you already feel part of a community. Coolest Projects expands that sense of belonging by showing creators they are part of a global network of young digital makers.

Seeing the variety of projects submitted each year can be inspiring. It helps young people recognise that there isn’t one “right” kind of project, just different ideas, perspectives, and approaches.

“It’s nice to see all the different projects people have made…I want to keep working on my project, and I will definitely come back next year.” – Peter, 11

Group of children smiling on stage, wearing matching blue t-shirts, holding white bags, with a large 'SCRATCH' logo displayed in the background.

Inspiring pride and motivation

Taking part in Coolest Projects creates a natural milestone. It gives creators a reason to persevere when something isn’t working and a moment to feel proud when it is.

For some, it may be a first AI experiment. For others, a simple website or game they’ve steadily improved. Whatever the format, submitting a project reinforces that their ideas are worth developing and sharing.

That pride often leads to renewed motivation to try something more ambitious next time, to build on what they’ve learned, and to keep creating.

“I liked trying out new stuff and looking at people’s projects because most of them were interesting and it inspired me to start web design (html & css)!” – Raj, 14

Coolest Projects 2026 is open for registrations. Find an in-person event near you, or join our global virtual event this summer. 

If your Code Club is already building projects, you’re well on your way. Signing up is simply the next step in recognising the confidence, communication, and creativity your creators are already developing every week.